Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh looks for another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only limitedly found at LIV. Originally joining LIV in 2022 while fearing his career was nearing its end due to injuries, Koepka sought a strong retirement fund. His opt-out from the final contract year raises questions: Did he buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation abounds on which tour Koepka will next appear: the DP World Tour where he might play immediately, potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance after earlier lifetime bans were softened. Rather than being vindictive, the PGA Tour benefits from LIV returnees, especially prominent ones with leverage. Reports from ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reveal Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, aiming to return to the playing field.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited strong fields. A return then would suit Koepka perfectly and appeal to investors involved in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely overseeing the top league.
\”He might need some time but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said in the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or is invited to those, he would play them.\” There may be leniency for a five-time major champ from the PGA board, players committee, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee—all supportive of directly reinstating Koepka, aligning with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation. Fans mostly agree, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026. His Crushers team featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will enter the fifth season unchanged. However, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s most marketable figure after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Back on PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old three-time major winner Vijay Singh from Fiji returns to the PGA Tour utilizing an exemption based on career earnings.